Career change as a dock worker

Career change paths

• Delivery driver

  Also: Courier driver

  Start right away

  As a delivery driver with a van, you load your vehicle, drive routes and hand over the goods to the customer.

  What you bring:

  You are used to scanning shipments, securing cargo and physical work.

  How to get there:

  This is possible with a driving license class B after a short introduction. For vehicles up to 3.5 metric tons, no professional driver qualification is needed.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Forklift driver

  Also: Warehouse worker with a forklift license

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  With a forklift license, you move the goods yourself and can be deployed for more tasks in the warehouse.

  What you bring:

  You know storage locations, pallets, load securing and the processes between goods receipt and shipping.

  How to get there:

  You get your forklift license through a course under DGUV Principle 308-001 (DGUV Grundsatz 308-001), usually lasting 1 to 3 days and often arranged through the employer. After that, the company needs to authorize you in writing to drive.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,198gross per monthMedian salary

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• Crane operator

  Also: Overhead crane operator

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a crane operator, you move material and cargo with overhead, loading or construction cranes.

  What you bring:

  You know rigging, stacking and securing heavy loads and have an eye for hazards in warehouse operations.

  How to get there:

  You get your crane license through a course under DGUV Principle 309-003 (DGUV Grundsatz 309-003). For overhead cranes it usually takes a few days, and for tower cranes on construction sites longer. Written authorization by the company is added.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,153gross per monthMedian salary

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• Machine and plant operator

  Also: Packaging machine operator

  With on-the-job training

  At packaging and filling plants, you set up machines, monitor operation and fix simple faults.

  What you bring:

  You know packaging, labels, barcodes and working in shift rhythm from shipping.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a machine operator with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the company, usually lasting a few weeks. You can also reach the qualification as a machine and plant operator (Maschinen- und Anlagenführer/in; training 2 years) through retraining (Umschulung) or as an external exam (Externenprüfung) under § 45 para. 2 BBiG.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,941gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a specialist, you also take on goods receipt inspection, inventory management, stocktaking and shipping documents.

  What you bring:

  You know picking, storing, scanners and warehouse software from practice.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) takes 2 years, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) 3 years. Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse logistics specialist usually takes about 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With enough work experience in the warehouse (3 or 4.5 years respectively), the exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) without training is also possible under § 45 para. 2 BBiG.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse manager

  Also: Shift supervisor in logistics

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a shift or warehouse manager, you plan staff and processes and are responsible for performance, occupational safety and stock.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own experience how picking, goods receipt and shipping are connected and where time is lost.

  How to get there:

  This usually happens in stages, via lead hand work (Vorarbeit) or shift leadership. The upgrading course to become a certified logistics master craftsperson (Geprüfte/r Logistikmeister/in, IHK) is possible part-time alongside work and is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Without a vocational qualification, you are admitted to the first part of the exam after 4 years of work experience, and to the second part after another year.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,707gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dispatcher

  Also: Route planner

  With retrainingPromotion

  In dispatching, you plan routes, vehicles and delivery dates and coordinate with drivers and customers.

  What you bring:

  You know loading times, packaging, shipping documents and the typical bottlenecks at the ramp.

  How to get there:

  This usually goes through a commercial qualification, for example retraining (Umschulung) as a clerk for freight forwarding and logistics services (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung), which usually takes about 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Experienced warehouse staff also sometimes move internally, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightIn an office

  €3,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver

  Also: Truck driver

  With further training

  As a truck driver, you bring the goods to the customer yourself and work largely independently on the road.

  What you bring:

  You know load securing, delivery notes and loading and unloading at the ramp.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation; 140 hours of instruction with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, IHK). Together they usually take a few months and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The alternative is vocational training (Ausbildung) as a professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer/in), 3 years.*Regulated by law (Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV), Driving License Ordinance (FeV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift work

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Security guard

  Also: Plant security guard

  With further training

  In property or plant security, you check access roads and ID cards, do rounds and respond correctly to disruptions.

  What you bring:

  You know shift work, logistics centers, truck dispatch and access rules at gates and ramps.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes 40 teaching hours, plus a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas, protection against shoplifters or admission to discos, you need the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the IHK instead.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Code (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.